Rare Andaman and Nicobar Islands (VU4) DXpedition on the Air!

The National Institute of Amateur Radio-sponsored DXpedition to Andaman
and Nicobar Islands (VU4) took to the air December 2 at 1831 UTC,
generating a lot of HF excitement. The five-member NIAR team, headed by
Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, will operate as VU4RBI and VU4NRO from the
capital city of Port Blair through the end of December.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is considered among the top most-wanted DXCC
entities--some listings put it at number 1. While the DXpedition's first
and primary activity has been on 20-meter SSB, operation has begun to
expand to other bands and modes. As of week's end, numerous US stations
were still reporting trouble even hearing either VU4 station, much less
working them. DX spot comments such as "zilch in Ohio" and "nuttin in NNJ"
reflected the frustration of those witnessing the success of fellow
amateurs elsewhere. An opening to the East Coast December 9 eased the
pressure a bit. While some CW operation using the VU4 call signs early on
was apparently the work of a pirate, the DXpedition did start up briefly
on 15 CW on December 8.

The Daily DX
http://www.dailydx.com/ this week had reported that US
amateur Charly Harpole, K4VUD, might join the Andamans DXpedition as a
guest op, but things did not work out. On December 10, The Daily DX
reported Harpole would visit the DXpedition "as a tourist" to take photos
and video, but not to operate. "However there is nothing that will stop
him from listening, making suggestions or helping with any projects in
order to keep the operators QRV around the clock," added The Daily DX
Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR.

McClenny, who also edits "How's DX?" for QST, said Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ,
has generated PropView short and long-path propagation forecasts between
each continental US call area and the Andamans
http://www.ambersoft.com/Amateur_Radio/VU4. The projections used are
optimistic, McClenny said.

VU4RBI and VU4NRO are the only call signs authorized from Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. QSL to NIAR, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad-500 082, Andhra
Pradesh, INDIA. More information is available on the NIAR Web site
http://www.niar.org/.

I was lucky to work both stations on 15 meters only due to the fact that they asked if there were any North Americain stations only. The JA pileup is inpossible to bust with 100 watts and a 2 element beam.
All I can say is keep trying you might get lucky like I did.

Dear Derick,
yes, all of the VU4 team members are safe and sound and are expected to remain there until 31 December as scheduled. The DXpedition is virtually over, as they are helping with emergency traffic.
Best wishes for the Mew Year and thank you for reading 425 DX News,
Mauro, I1JQJ